Flexible striking device for piano-actions



N. M. ONG- FLEXIBLE STRIKING DEVICE FOR PIANO ACTIONS.

APPLICATION mm JAN. 14, 1920.

1,342,029. Patqnted June 1, 1920.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

,NIIAEI-IIANIEL- M. one, or r or-ax, nanns rrvnnra.

To all whom it may concern:

proved flexible striking device therefor.

As heretofore constructed, striking capstans used in connection with player pianos, pianos for mechanical operation,and automatic instruments of the key operated type have been of a complicated nature, .or such that a heavy stroke or blow of the key, would result in injury to the parts ofthe piano action, result in unequalization ofthe blow instead of softening the. same automatically, and also producing a metallictone in addition to permitting the prolong or cooperating partof the piano action, to.be-.

come displaced thereby interfering with the playing of the parts and causing friction.

The present invention constitutes'a novel improvement for pianos, player pianos and other automatic instruments of this type, in which aprolong or lifter isprovided, cooperating with a flexible striking device mounted on the inner end of the key, so that the latter is depressed at its outer end and rockedon its fulcrum,--the .proper motion will be transmitted to thehammers for the purpose of playing theinstrument,the devicebeing such that the touch and stroke will be improved, the flexibility ofthe device serving to equalize both. the touch and stroke and resulting in an automatic softening of the blow so as to prevent injury o the action parts thus producing the deli cate human finger touch that isonly .comparable with hand playing.

A-further objectof the invention is to provide a deviceof the above character which will insure long life to the instrument, improve the qualityofthe tone, and cheapen and simplify the construction of actions. The device further embodies a striking de-- .vice, which is constructed 1n a'slmpleand novel manner, so as to be very economically produced from a single section of spring metal in strip form, so as to be readily applied to a key and retained in position, for giving the desired cushioning action which when striking a key with a heavy stroke or Specification of Letters latent.

FLEXIBLE S'lRIKIITG- DEVICEFOR PIANO-ACTIONS,

BatentedJunel, 1920.

Applic ation filed January 14,-1920.-Seria1 No. 351,412.

blow, will result in the absorption of the shock orrforce ofthe blow, thereby preventing injury to the action parts. i I

'alVlth the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description-proceeds,-the:invention resides in the combinationhereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatwithinw the scope of .what is: claimed, changes in-the precise embodiment ofthe invention shown can be made without departingfrom the spiritof .the invention.

;.In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a piano action provided with aprolong or lifter,

showing a key having aflexible striking device, constructed in accordance with the invention;

. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the inner end of a key-and the flexible striking device applied thereto, the lower portion'of the prolong or lifter being shown engaged with the contact portion ofthe device; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the striking device detached from its cooperating .means, and mounted onthe in ner end of a key, the latterbeing shown in phantom.

Referring to the drawings'in detail in wh ch l ke reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a piano action isdesignated generally at 10, provided with hammers 11 adapted to strike the strings or other music producing elements of a piano, player piano or automatic instrument employingany one or a number of instruments. The damper is designated at 12 and 13 designates generally the action through which motion is transmitted from the keys to the hammer or hammers. The prolong of the action is designated at 14 and has the lower end thereof resting on the -flexible striking dematter of the present invention.

The keys are designated'at l6, and pivot vice or capstan 15, constituting the subject on thefulcrums 17 for actuation in the usual manner, in playing of the instrument One -of the flexible striking devices is mounted on each key,that is, on the upper edge of each, adjacent to the inner extremity thereof and as shown each device comprises a narrow strip offlexible metaL'such as spring steel or the "like, with proper resiliency and strength, the lowerportion '18: thereof being of rectilinearformation and flat and having one end thereof disposed outermost, curved or bent upon itself as shown at 19, to extend upwardly and rearwardly and formed with a horizontal portion terminating in an upwardly extending portion 21 from which extends a horizontal portion 22 adapted for contact with the lower end of the prolong 14.

The bottom portion 18 is provided at one end with an attaching means adjacent the inner end of the key, in a form of a downwardly bent prong or bur 23 adapted to penetrate the key for securing the device in position. Each device is made of'a strip of less width than the width of the key,

preferably, and is mounted at a relatively short distance from the inner end thereof, the rectilinear portion 18 forwardly of the prong 28 and intermediately of the length of the portion 18, being provided with an aperture 24L alined with an aperture 25 in the horizontally disposed top portion 20, which is substantially parallel to the portion 18. A fastening screw 26 or the like, passes through the openings 24 and 25 and engages the key 16, the head of the screw serving as a stop to limit the upward move ment of the depressible top portion of the device, while permitting the necessary downward movement and giving the desired flexibility, for the purpose of absorbing some what the force of a heavy stroke or blow whereby to automatically soften the same and prevent the transmission of the force to the action. It is to be understood that the top portion is normally held in raised position and the screw, in addition to serving as an attaching means, also serves as a guiding means for the flexible top portion of each device. This top portion has movement from the bent or curved portion 19, so as to produce the desired flexibility, and the contact portion 22 is straight or rectilinear transversely but rounded or of oval formation longitudinally as clearly shown in the drawings, thus obviating the tendency to throw the lifter or prolong to either side, which would cause friction or dislodginent, and would thus interfere with the proper playing. The free end of the contact portion 22 is preferably bent downwardly as indicated at 27 to avoid the exposure of a sharp edge or possible contact thereof with the prolong or lifter, and also to give the necessary strength transversely to the contact portion.

Thus, when the key is actuated, the inner end thereof will be raised, the outer end being depressed in the playing, so as to raise the striking device in the contact with the lower end of the prolong 14,-, to actuate the action. As the device contacts with the prolong, the desired flexibility will be produced by the upper portion, which will be permitted to move downwardly over the screw 26, and thus cushion or soften the blow. This will result in an improved touch and stroke of the hammer, especially when a heavy stroke is made, the flexibility of the device causing an equalization of the force which will obviate the metallic tone which will otherwise be caused, and generally improve the quality of the tone. It is to be understood that the device can be applied to pianos, player pianos or other automatic instruments of this type, and that changes in the exact form, size and arrangement of the device may be made within the scope of the device claimed.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

1. The combination with the action of a musical instrument having a prolong and key for actuating the same; of a flexible striking device mounted on the inner end of the key beneath said prolong, and comprising a bent flexible strip with a lower portion disposed flat against the key and an upper portion movable relative thereto.

2. The combination with the action of a musical. instrument having a prolong and key for actuating the same; of a flexible striking device mounted on the inner end of the key beneath said prolong, and comprising a flexible strip, said strip being bent upon itself to provide a lower portion disposed flat against the top of the key throughout .the length of said lower portion and anchored to the key and an upper portion diverging upwardly therefrom, means carried by the key and passing through said portion to movably receive the upper portion thereon, said upper portion being provided with a contact part at the free end thereof for engagement with the lower end of the pro long.

The combination with the prolong of a piano action and a key for operating said action through the medium of said prolong; of a flexible striking device mounted on a key adjacent the inner end thereof for disposition beneath said prolong, said striking device comprising a single strip of resilient material of approximately the same width as the key and having a prong at one end engaged with the key, said strip being bent upon itself rearwardly to provide a lower portion disposed against the key and an up per portion movable in a flexible limited path with respect thereto, said upper and lower portions being provided with apertures, a screw engaged through said apertures and on which the upper portion is adapted to have limited movement down- "wardly, and upwardly, said upper portion being provided with a raised part at the free end thereof for contact with the lower end of the prolong.

i. A flexible striking device of the class descril'ied, comprising a resilient strip of metal bent upon itself to provide a hori- 'zontal lower portion having one end formed with a prong and an upper portion diverg;

ing therefrom, said upper portion having a raised part at the free end thereof of a rectilinear formation transversely and rounded formation longitudinally.

5. A flexible striking device of the class described, comprising a resilient strip of metal bent upon itself to provide. a horizontal lower portion having one end formed with a prong and an upper portion diverging therefrom, said upper portion having a raised part at the free end thereof of a rectilinear formation transversely and rounded formation longitudinally, said upper and lower portions being provided with apertures adapted to receive a securing member and said upper portion being flexibly movable with respect to the lower portion.

6. The combination with a key, of a flexible striking device comprising a relatively inclined resilient strip having a contact portion, and securing means for fixedly mounting the strip on the key, said means serving to limit the vertical movement of the strip, said strip being normally elevated.

7. An improved flexible striking device for pianos and the like comprising a narrow relatively thin strip of resilient metal bent upon itself to provide a rectilinear bottom portion formed with means to anchor the same to a key and the bent portion being extended upwardly, and rearwardly to provide a horizontal portion and a raised contact portion at the free end thereof, said portion with respect to the lower rectilinear portion.

8. An improved flexible strikmg devlce for planos and the l1ke coinprislng a narrow relatively thin strip of resilient metal bent upon itself to provide a rectilinear bottom portion formed with means to anchor the same to a key and the bent portion being extended upwardly and rearwardly in a horizontal position, and aiaised contact portion at the free end thereof, said horizontal portion and said rectilinear portion each having an aperture, said apertures being disposed in alinement, guiding and securing means disposed through said apertures and permitting depression of the bent portion with respect to the lower rectilinear portion, said contact portion having a vertical offset at the point of rearward limitation thereof, and being flat transversely and slightly oval longitudinally, the free end of the bent portion being bent downwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NATHANIEL M. ONG.

Witnesses:

NoAI-r C. MAY, JOHN C. DEETER. 

